W. C. T. U.

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3468, 19 May 1934, Page 6

W. C. T. U.

MEETING OF TE AWAMUTU BRANCH. PEACE AND ARBITRATION. At the monthly meeting of men’s Christian Temperance held on Thursday, the president, Mrs T. N. Olson and Mrs M. Wilson spoke on “ Peace and Arbitration,” a s discussed at the recent Convention held in Wellington. They gave three main reasons why the discussions on peace had apparently failed. (1) The general fear and distrust which existed between nations. (2) The economic crisis. (3) The dispute between China and Japan. The first of these we all realised was cnly too apparent to all, the second needed no explanation and with regard to the thrid suffice to say that every nation except Japan and Siam laid the blame on Japan. Besides the League of Natiofis many other organisations were working for disarmament and a better understanding between the nations.

It has been proved that while the nations are working for peace and disarmament, there are some in whose financial interests it is that war shall continue. It has been proved that in 1927 three of'the largest shipping companies paid vast sums to wreck the deliberations of the Disarmament Conference.

So far, Germany and Japan have net left the League. They have to give two years’ notice, and before that time expires, we hope they will not wish to withdraw.

At the Convention a resolution was passed: “That, realising the private manufacture of and traffic in armaments are the main cause of the failure of the Disarmament Conferente and the greatest menace to world peace, this convention of the W.C.T.U., representing many thousands of New Zealand women, affirms its entire opposition to and condemnation of the traffic in arms for private profit, and urges the Government of this country and every other countty to do all in their power to put an end to such traffic.”

From its very inception the Women’s Christian Temperance Union has been opposed to war as a means of settling international disputes, and was the first group of women to advocate peaceful arbitration and international understanding in its place. Many 'of its members played a lone hand, and were the objects of abuse and much misunderstanding as a result. This was especially so during the Great War, and even in New Zealand, as far as certain members were concerned. Since that time, however, public opinion has gone forward a long way, and groups of men and women everywhere have become organised for the same , purpose, and with the same ideals, including the League of Nations and its many auxilaries. Of the Pacific area this is eminently true, for here we have actively at work: The International W.C.T.U., the International Y.M.C.A., the International Student Christian Federation, the International Y.W.C.A., the Women’s International League for Peace, the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association, all sowing seed which must result in a rich harvest in the days to come. Lieut.-Colonel G- A. Drew, a Canadian, officer in an article in Maclean’s Magazine, says:—■“ The only chance to achieve any effective measure of disarmament is to disarm first the enemies of peace.” The failure of past disarmament conference to achieve results is attributed, generally, to an alleged condition of distrust among nations. The truth is that there is a sinister influence at work. It is the armament industry which is smashing civilisation by bringing to naught, the efforts made by the League of Nations in an advance toward the outlawry of war. In September, 1921, a Commission appointed by the League of Nations declared:—(l) That armament firms have been active in fomenting war scares. (2) That armament firms have attempted to bribe Government officials. (3) That armament firms have disseminated false reports in oi 1 - der to stimulate armament. expenditure. (4) That armament firms have sought to influence public opinion through the control of newspapers. In 1929 Dr William B. Shearer, an American, sued three firms for 255,655 dollars, which he claimed in his wbjjt was'the balance due to him for his “ services in preventing any results from the Naval Disarmament Conference at Geneva.”

In England a one-time obscure Greek now known as Sir Basil Zaharcff, is the King of Armaments, a Salesman of Death. He controls Bickers, Ltd., a company with 80.000 shareholders, comprising in addition to people in ordinary walks of life, Cabinet Ministers, M.P.’s. publicists and elergynien. Zaharoff controls similar companies in five different countries. He had , interests in Krupp’s... He controls oil companies, and has spun a web of influence about politics in Europe by his control of newspapers. As a paradox Zahai-off was a confident of Lloyd George in discussions on the advisability of peace in 1917. and was “ all for continuing the war.” The menace of the private manufacture of arms was never greater than it is to-day. It received emphasis during the Sino-Japanese conflict, when on the one hand, statesmen in Britain, America, France, Italy, and elsewhere were urging that Japan should recognise the Kellogg Pact, renouncing war, while at the same time private manufacturers of arms in the same countries were shipping millions of pounds worth of material which made war between China and Japan possible. Can there be any question that it is encumbent upon all nations to prohibit the manufacture of war equipment and to assume control of the export of all war material? Mr W, Mills sang during the afternoon “ Still, Still With Thee,” which was much enjoyed. Afternoon tea was then served.